Alex Cora tests positive for COVID-19, leaves Fenway Park; Will Venable is temporary Red Sox manager

BOSTON — Pink Sox supervisor Alex Cora examined optimistic for COVID-19 shortly earlier than the beginning of Thursday’s recreation and isn’t managing towards the Blue Jays, the crew confirmed.

In a press release, a crew spokesman stated that Cora, who’s vaccinated and boosted, has gentle signs. He won’t journey with the crew to St. Petersburg for Boston’s three-game collection towards the Rays, which begins Friday. Cora held his pregame session with reporters, as regular, within the interview room about 2 ½ hours earlier than first pitch.

Bench coach Will Venable is managing Thursday’s recreation.

The Pink Sox have been coping with a small COVID outbreak in latest days with three gamers (catchers Christian Vázquez and Kevin Plawecki and infielder Jonathan Araúz) testing optimistic since Monday. Vázquez has already returned however Plawecki and Araúz stay on the COVID-19 injured checklist.

As a result of certainly one of Cora’s four-year-old twin boys examined optimistic lately, Cora has spent the previous couple of days dwelling at a resort as a substitute of on the household residence.

It’s unclear when Cora will return to the Pink Sox. Boston is touring to Florida after Thursday’s recreation and can play there via Sunday earlier than going to Toronto for a four-game collection starting Tuesday. Although Canada doesn’t permit unvaccinated vacationers (together with unvaccinated gamers) to enter the nation, a supply indicated that after gamers or coaches clear MLB’s protocols, they’re good to go irrespective of the place video games are being held.

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